Tampa, FL (Betting Express) - Fred Russell picked up his 15th 100-yard game with 150 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries to lead 13th-ranked Iowa over No. 17 Florida, 37-17, in the 18th annual Outback Bowl.

Nathan Chandler completed 13-of-25 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown for the Hawkeyes (10-3), who ended the season with their third straight victory.

"This is very gratifying and very rewarding. This is one more hurdle for us to climb," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "None of us had a good taste in our mouths after the game last January. It stuck with us."

Chris Leak was 22-of-41 for 268 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Gators (8-5), who suffered back-to-back defeats in their final two games on the heels of a five-game win streak. Florida, which was aiming for its 15th bowl victory this New Year's Day, has now been defeated in four of its last five bowl games.

"I apologize to the Gator fans. It's my responsibility to get this football team ready to play and we weren't ready to play," Florida coach Ron Zook said.

The game was knotted at 7-7 after the first quarter, but the Hawkeyes tallied all 13 second-quarter points en route to taking a 20-7 advantage into the intermission and they led the rest of the way.

On just the second play of the second quarter, Nate Kaeding booted a 47-yard field goal and, after Florida went three-and-out, Iowa increased its edge to 17-7 when Chandler rushed for a five-yard score with 8:56 to play in the half.

Then, with less than a minute remaining, Kaeding converted on a 32-yard field goal to complete the first-half scoring.

Iowa didn't waste any time lighting the scoreboard out of the locker room either. Just 54 seconds into the third, Matt Melloy blocked a punt in the end zone to give the Hawkeyes a 27-7 lead.

Just under three minutes later, Matt Leach trimmed the deficit to 27-10 for Florida with a 48-yard field goal.

But before the third frame ended, Russell ran for a 34-yard score to increase the Iowa lead to 34-10 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Kaeding posted a 38-yard field goal for the final Iowa points in the fourth, while Dallas Baker capped off the scoring on a 25-yard touchdown catch for the Gators.

The Gators opened up the scoring midway through the first quarter with a 70- yard touchdown pass from Leak to Kelvin Kight. The strike down the middle not only put the Gators ahead 7-0 with 7:18 left in the first frame, but it also set an Outback Bowl record for the longest touchdown reception.

But on the ensuing possession, Iowa knotted the game at 7-7 with a Maurice Brown three-yard touchdown catch.